Joseph Edward Baugh Jr. (July 25, 1932 – November 19, 1999), known as Smokey Joe Baugh or simply Smokey Joe, was an American
rockabilly and
country singer and pianist.
Biography
Baugh was born in
Helena, Arkansas, and by the age of 14 had begun playing piano semi-professionally around
Memphis. Around 1952, he joined the Shelby Follin Band, where he met guitarist
Paul Burlison. With Burlison, he accompanied
Howlin' Wolf on radio performances on station KWEM in
West Memphis. He then joined the
Snearly Ranch Boys, led by Clyde Leoppard, performing and touring with them, and recorded the single "Split Personality", released on the Flip label, an offshoot of
Sun Records, in early 1955, and credited to Bill Taylor (the band's trumpeter) and Smokey Jo .
[ Biography by Bruce Eder, ''Allmusic.com'']
Retrieved 22 January 2019
Sam Phillips recognized that Baugh's distinctive raspy voice could appeal to black audiences, though Baugh himself was white. He signed to Sun Records, and later in 1955 recorded "The Signifying Monkey", a song written by Bill Taylor and
Stan Kesler
Stanley Augustus Kesler (August 11, 1928October 26, 2020) was an American musician, record producer and songwriter, whose career began at the Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. He co-wrote several of Elvis Presley's early recordings including " I' ...
based on
traditional African American folklore. The record became successful around Memphis, and Baugh, who was assumed by the promoters to be black, was invited to perform at the
Apollo Theatre in
Harlem. The song formed the basis of
Chuck Berry's "
Jo Jo Gunne". Baugh's original recording, featuring a prototype
ska rhythm of the type popularized by
Millie Small's "
My Boy Lollipop", was reissued in 1964, and the song was recorded about the same time by
Sam the Sham. Baugh's recording has subsequently been issued on various
rockabilly compilations.
[ "Smokey Joe Baugh", ''BlackCatRockabilly'']
Retrieved 21 January 2019
Although Baugh made further recordings for Sun, including "Hula Bop" featuring
Hawaiian guitar as well as Baugh's piano, most were not issued at the time, perhaps because Baugh and Phillips had a poor relationship. However, Baugh did record as a
session musician
Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...
on records by
Warren Smith,
Barbara Pittman,
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)#nytimesobit, Pareles. was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennes ...
, and others. He was also present at the "
Million Dollar Quartet" recording in December 1956, with Perkins,
Elvis Presley,
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
, and
Jerry Lee Lewis. During the early 1960s, he was a member of
Bill Black's Combo
William Patton Black Jr. (September 17, 1926 – October 21, 1965) was an American musician and bandleader who is noted as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. He played in Elvis Presley's early trio. Black later formed Bill Black's Combo.
Ear ...
. Baugh's career was limited by financial problems and a dependence on alcohol and other drugs. He moved to
Waco, Texas, and in 1970, formed a
country band, the Midnite Cowboys, with guitarist Buddy Holobaugh.
[
Baugh died in ]Monterey, California
Monterey (; es, Monterrey; Ohlone: ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under bo ...
, in 1999.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baugh, Smokey Joe
1932 births
1999 deaths
Sun Records artists
American rockabilly musicians